International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017

RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

Mitigation of Power Interruption in Radial and Grid

Feeder Schemes and Safety of Equipment’s
T. Kannan1, M. Mahendran2
PG scholar1 , Assistant Professor2(Department of EEE)
Department of Electrical Engineering
SCSVMV University, Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract:
The Continuity of power supply that is reliability of power supply is highly essential for the
development of the country. The electric power is distributed to the consumers through electrical network.
The study involves the analysis of various obstacles for reliable power supply, interruption in electric
power distribution due to defects in relays and circuit. Cost benefit by the prevention and reliability in
power supply.

Keywords— Reliability of power, Mitigation of Interruption, Radial feeders, power transformer and
grid feeders.

Single line diagram of 33kv sub station

1. INTRODUCTION
The power generated at the generating
station should reach the consumers, for which
Transmission and Distribution network is used.
Since electrical equipment’s are involved in the
Single line diagram of 110kv sub station
Transmission and Distribution network the
electric power supply does not reach the
consumer without interruption. The interruptions
of power supply distributions are caused either
intentionally or unintentionally. Intentional

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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017
interruptions are the load shedding done to match
the demand and supply that is Demand Side
Management (DSM). The unintentional
interruptions are caused by the defects developed
in the Transmission and Distribution network and
equipment’s associated with them. This research
is involved in the area of unintentional
interruptions. This study is focused on the
interruption in power distribution due to the
various defects developed in the relays and its
circuits.
II. DEFECT DESCRIPTION
The study is focused on the interruptions
in radial feeders. Hence the 110KV and 33KV
sub stations have been selected for the study. The
study was conducted during 2014-2016 on the
causes of interruptions in the utility.
The defect which affects reliability in
power supply is categorized as under.
A. Power Transformer
1. Actuation of Oil Surge Relay (OSR) due to
internal defect development in Power
Transformer during failure of Lightning
Arrester (IAS)
2. Operation of differential relay due to
improper harmonic range selection.
3. Actuation of oil temperature relay due to
Mercury switch defect.
4. Actuation of Bucholz relay due to shorting
of leads by entry of rain water and foreign
material in the relay junction box.
5. Actuation of winding temperature trip due to
shorting of leads at Terminal Block (TB) by
insects.
6. Actuation of tripping due to differential relay
defect
7. Actuation of Bucholz relay due to low oil
level by oil leakage.
8. High winding temperature due to wrong
selection of winding current Transformer ratio
9. Actuation of pressure relief valve due to DC
supply leakage & shorting of leads by rain
water and birds nest.
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10. Actuation of high winding temperature due to
air looking in power Transformer.
11. Operation on differential relay due to entry of
rain watershorting of bushing CT Secondary
leads
12. Actuation of Oil Surge Relay (OSR) due to
rain water and low oil level due to oil leakage
13. Operation of Power transformer Protection for
Power transformer internal fault.
B. Current Transformer
1. Early pickup of relay due to collapse of
Current Transformer (CT) ratio
2. Failure of molded type Current Transformer
due to entry of rain water inside the Current
Transformer (CT) through the crack
developed in the molding.
3. Simultaneous tripping of adjacent feeders due
to low insulation resistance value of Current
Transformer in healthy feeders.
4. Failure of Current Transformer due open
circuiting of secondary.
C. Circuit Breaker
1. Non tripping of breaker due to broken spring
2. Non opening of one of the poles in the
circuit breaker due to mechanism defect.
3. Non closing of circuit breaker due to low air
pressure because of failure of AC supply to
compressor motor.
4. Non operation of circuit breaker due to
auxiliary switch defect.
5. Burning of trip coil in the breaker due to
continuous DC supply due to mechanism
defect and shorting DC leads by foreign
material.
6. Flash over of breaker due to low insulation
resistance value.
7. Non opening of one of the Poles due to
broken operating rod.
D. Relays
1. Not opening of breaker due to defect in the
miniature relay.
2. Failure of relay due to mixing of AC & DC
supply due to failure of control cables
during Bus fault.
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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017
3. Early pickup of relay due to relay defect.
4. Operation of relay in the healthy feeder due
to loose connection in the protection wiring
‘L’ point during fault in the other feeder.
5. Non operation of relay due to relay fixing
mechanical arrangement defect.
6. Backup relay pickup due to non-
coordination of relay timings.
7. Non operation of relay when the fault
current exceeds the current rating
programmed in the relay.
E. Battery
1. Non clearing of fault by circuit breaker due
to weak battery because of failure of charger
fuse.
2. Not tripping of circuit breaker due to weak
battery.
3. Non opening of one of the Poles due to
broken operating rod.
F. Lightning Arresters
1. Failure of Lightning Arresters (LAS)
leading to On Load Tap Changer (OLTC)
defect in Power Transformer.
2. Failure of Lightning Arrester (LAS)
causing tripping of breaker.
3. Low insulation resistance value of
Lightning Arrester (LAS) causes tripping of
circuit breaker.
G. Sub Station Earthing
Weak earthing causes failure of control
cables during bus fault.
H. Bus Fault
1. Failure of bus insulator causes tripping of
circuit breaker.
2. Bus fault causes damage of Current
Transformer (CT) cable at junction box
and control cable due to high fault current
spreading in the SS equipments.
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I. Line
Crossing of different voltage rating lines
with insufficient clearance causes tripping of
healthy line due to mutual induction.
III. DEFECT PREVENTING TECHNIQUES
The preventing techniques for the defects
described above are narrated below.
A. Power Transformer
The actuation of oil Surge relay and
Bucholz relay due to entry of rain water and
foreign material can be prevented by arresting the
entry of water and foreign material by closing the
junction box cover with good quality gasket and
by providing the proper size gland for the cable.
The gaps in the cable entry point should be
closed by using M seal. The side entry of the
Cable in the junction box to be shifted to the
bottom in order to avoid the rain water entry
through cable.
The actuation of Oil Surge Relay (OSR)
and Bucholz relay due to oil leakage can be
prevented by periodically checking the oil level
in the Power Transformer and topping up if
required to the correct level.
The actuation of oil Surge relay due to the
defect developed in the On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC) by the failure of lightning arrester can be
prevented by periodically testing the lightning
arrester for its healthiness and by replacing the
lightning arrester if found weak.
The entry of rain water in the secondary
side junction box of bushing Current
Transformers can be prevented by providing
good quality gasket and fixing the covers firmly
without any gaps. There by the shorting of
secondary leads of Bushing Current Transformer
by rain water and the mal operation of
differential relay can be prevented.
The harmonic setting in the differential
relay should be selected based on the harmonics
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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017
generated in the area of use to prevent the mal
operation of differential relay. Further, the
differential relay should be tested periodically to
confirm its healthiness. If found defective, it
should be replaced to prevent mal operation of
differential relay.
The Thermometers should be tested
periodically to confirm its healthiness and if any
one of the components found defective, it should
be replaced to prevent unnecessary tripping.
The leads at the terminal blocks (TB)
should be covered to prevent the shorting of leads
by insects and the consequent mal operation of
winding temperature trip.
The correct winding temperature Current
Transformer (CT) ratio should be selected to
avoid the false tripping of high winding
temperature.
The power Transformer should be
periodically checked for uniformity of
temperature in the Transformer. If any not
uniformity is found, the air locking in the
Transformer should be released to avoid high
winding temperature.
The DC leads in the protection wiring of
the power transformer pressure relief valve
(PRV) should be properly insulated to prevent
shorting of leads by DC supply leakage. The rain
water entry should be arrested by using good
quality gaskets for the cover and proper size
gland for the cable and there by the mal operation
of PRV can be prevented. The PRV should be
provided with cover to avoid the operation of
PRV by birds.
The Power Transformer breather, oil
condition and IR values should be checked
periodically and maintained in good condition
and the Power Transformer over loading should
be avoided to prevent the development of internal
fault in Power Transformer.
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B. Current Transformer
The Current Transformer (CT) should be
tested periodically to confirm its healthiness. If
the CT is found weak or defective, it should be
replaced to prevent early pick up of relay due to
collapse of CT ratio, simultaneous tripping of
adjacent feeders due to low insulation resistance
(IR) value of CT and failure of CT due to open
circuiting of secondary side.
Incase of moulded case Current
Transformer, it should be examined periodically
to find out if there is any cracks. If any crack is
developed either it should be closed with M seal
or the CT should be replaced depending upon the
condition of crack to avoid entry of rain water
and subsequent failure of CT.
C. Circuit Breaker
The breaker should be periodically
checked for its correct operation and its
healthiness. If any part is found defective, it
should be replaced and mechanism defect should
be attended and lubricated for its free operation
to prevent the mal functioning of breaker. Incase
of pneumatic breaker the compressor operation
and AC supply availability to motor should be
checked and if any defect is noticed it should be
attended immediately to avoid non operation of
breaker due to low air pressure.
D. Relay
The relay and its wiring should be
periodically tested to confirm its correct
operation and if any defect is found it should be
rectified to prevent mal operation of relay.
The AC and DC cables should be laid
separately to avoid mixing of AC and DC supply
and to prevent relay failure.
The delay timings of the relay should be
selected properly to avoid backup tripping. The
relay current rating should be selected according
to the fault level of the area to prevent the
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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017

programme locking of relay due to over current I. Line Crosing

during fault.
The crossing of line should be erected
E. Battery with clearance as per standard to avoid
simultaneous tripping of breakers due to mutual
The battery should be maintained induction.
periodically and its charging condition should be
monitored continuously and the defect if any
found should be attended immediately to prevent
the non tripping of breaker during fault due to 110KV SIDE DEFACTS CAUSE AND
weak battery. REMEDY

F. Lightning Arrester 110KV CIRCUIT BRAKER WAS NOT

The Lightning Arrester (LAS) should be
tested periodically to confirm its healthiness and
its correct operation. If any defect is noticed
during test, it should be attended or if required
LAS should be replaced to prevent development
of defect in Power Transformer OLTC during
failure of LAS, tripping of breakers due to failure
of LAS.
G. Substation Earthing
The Substation earthing should be
periodically measured to confirm its healthiness.
If any of the earth pit resistance value is more, it
should be attended immediately and all the earth
pit resistance should be maintained low by proper
watering to prevent spreading fault current in the
SS equipment and to prevent control cable from
damage.
H. Bus Fault
The insulation resistance of all the
supporting insulators in the substation should be
measured periodically for confirming its
healthiness. If any of the insulators is found
defective, it should be replaced immediately by
healthy one avoid unnecessary tripping of circuit
breaker and supply interruption and to prevent
control cable from damage during failure of
insulator.
CHARGED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING
DEFECTS
1. Air pressure operating mechanism air
leakage
2. Low air indication i.e. Below 14kgf/cm2
3. Gas leakage
4. Low gas alarm and lockout condition
5. Single phase supply instead of and phase
supply
6. Closing and tripping coil worn out
7. DC supply less than recommended DC
Voltage
8. 110KV breaker clamps, jumpers are
loosen condition
9. Heavy glow ideal charging
10. Pole Discrepancies occur during close
11. Breaker mechanism auxiliary contacts
making problem
12. Lighting one the breaker insulator pet
coat broken condition
13. Low IR values of Insulators
14. Breaker T&C Switch was not working
properly
15. Mal operation of charging of breaker
without removing earth rods provided
CIRUIT BREAKER REMEDY
1. Air pressure pipe line, leakage completely
avoid. Every weakly with soap solution
air leakage checked
2. Air pressure increased by running of
compressor motor and maintaining air
pressure above 14kgf/cm2

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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017
3. SF6 Gas pressure maintain 6.5kgf/cm2 if
low tapping of sf6 gas done
4. Gas leakage checked and arrested
5. Single phase preventer contactor and
maintain 3 phase supply
6. Closing and tripping coil changed by new
one
7. 110 volts DC supply maintained in trip
and close coil of breaker
8. Clamps and 110KV Jumpers in Tightness
condition
9. Clamp tightness and providing hot-zip
zinc coated bolt & nuts
10. Sequence closing of breaker poles
maintained with removing dust etc.
11. Proper lubrication done in auxiliary
contacts of breaker
12. Lighting spike provided
13. Changing of low IR values Insulator
14. New T&C switch provided
15. Proper authorization experience operators
with conduction safety glass
33KV BRAKER DEFECTS AND REMEDY
1. Spring charging motor problem
2. Motor charging limit switch problem
3. Dummy closing of breaker
4. SF6 gas leakage, low gas
5. Vacuum interrupter damaged
6. Circuit breaker during open condition 1no
of breaker phase not opening
7. Protection cable damaged due to rats
8. Relay closing and tripping problems
9. Burst breaker insulator
10. Trip and close coil plunger adjustment
problem
33KV BRAKER CLOSING REMEDY
1. Damaged spring changed
2. Limit switch changed by new one
3. Adjusting of travel time
4. SF6 gas tapped, gas leakage arrested
5. New vacuum interrupter provided
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6. Ammeter loading checked and again open
the breaker
7. Cable duct maintained neatly and clean
eaten waste not through inside control
room.
8. Relay calibrated every year periodically
9. Lighting spike provided
10. Plunger adjustment done
110 KV & 33KV CURRENT
TRANSFORMER DEFECTS AND REMEDY
1. Current Transformer secondary saturates
2. Current transformer busted
3. Oil leakage
4. Low IR value
5. Insulator broken
6. Proper measuring CT erected
7. Loose connection of cables
8. Secondary side of loading improper rods
provided. Minimum loading transformer
9. Glow in current transformer clamps
10. Current transformer firing
REMEDY
1. Current transformer secondary short
circuited
2. Limit the loading amps
3. Gasket provided newly and oil leakage
arrested.
4. Improve the IR value
5. Correct ration of C.T. Erected
6. Quality Insulator provided
7. Tightness of cable with duct.
8. Ct rods provided according of loading
9. Clamps changed and provide new bolt &
nuts with zinc coated
10. Tree clearance, periodical oil changing
done.
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IV. TESTING AND MAINTENANCE IS 3070 (Part I)

STANDARDS
G. Earthing
The following Standards are to be adapted
for preventing the defect in the power apparatus IS 3042 – 1966
and relays
H. Insulators
A. Power Transformer IS 2544-1973
1. IS 2026,
I. Line crossing
2. IS 2026 (Part I, II) – 1977
IE Rule 77 & 78 – 1956
3. IS 2026 (Part III) – 1981,
4. IS 2026 (Part IV) – 1999
V. NUMERICAL AND GRAPHICAL
5. IS 335-1993, RESULTS

6. IS 9434 – 1979 The study was conducted in utility during

2014-2016. The interruptions due to the various
7. IS 10593 -1983 causes detailed above were analyzed. The
techniques for the prevention of above defects
were also analyzed. The units due to unwanted
interruption and its cost were arrived. Similarly
B. Current Transformer
the costs of preventive techniques were also
1. IS 2705 – 1992 arrived based on the standard material cost &
labour cost. The saving due to the adaptation of
C. Circuit Breaker preventive techniques are furnished in the
following table
1. IS 13118 – 1991
2. IEC 56 - 1987
Single chart for cost of Energy lost in %
3. IEC 71 - 1972

D. Relay
1. IS 3842 (Part I) – 1967,
2. IS 3842 (Part XII) – 1976

E. Battery
IS 8320 – 1976

F. Lighting Arrester

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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017

the equipment’s. In turn it avoids the defect in the

equipment’s. The prevention of defects would
give reliability of power supply and would give
cost benefit to the utility.

REFERENCE
Equipment’s preventive techniques
(1). Billinton.R, Vohra P.K. Kumar. S: Effect
Defects in Equipment of Station Originated outages in a composite
system adequacy Evaluation of the IEEE.
1. Power Transformer Reliability Test system. IEEE Trans, Power
2. Current Transformer Apparatus and systems, Vol: PAS-104, Issue :
3. Circuit Breaker 10, Pages : 2649-2656, 26 Feb-2007.
4. Relays
(2). Billiton.R, Wojezynskri.E, Distributional
5. Battery Variation of Distribution System reliability
6. Lightning Arrester Indices, IEEE. Trans, Power Apparatus and
7. Sub Station Earthing Systems, Vol: PAS-104, Issue:11, Pages : 3151-
8. Bus Fault 3160, 26 Feb-2007.
9. Line Crossing
(3). Wojczynski.E, Billiton. R. Effects of
Nature of Defect Distribution System reliability Index distribution
upon Interruption Cost / Reliability worth
Estimates. IEEE Trans, Power Apparatus and
1. Miniature Relay Defect
Systems, Vol: PAS-104, Issue: 11, Pages: 3229-
2. Mixing of AC & DC Supply in Relay 3235, Feb 2007
3. Early pickup due to Relay defect
4. Protection Wiring Defect (4). Reliability and Continuity of Supply. 9th
5. Relay fixing Defect International Conference, Electrical Power
Quality and Utilization, Barcelona, 9-11 October
6. Non Coordination of Relay Timings
2007.
7. Relay Programmer Error
(5). Improving Distribution System
Reliability using Distribution Automation Based
on Coordination between Auto recloser,
UTILITY SPECIFICATION Sectionaliser and Limit Fuses. CIRED, 19th
(1). Number of Substations International Conference on Electricity
110/11KV : 13Nos Distribution, Vienna 21-24 May 2007, Paper
0278.

33/11 KV : 18Nos. (6). Interruptions and Supply Continuity in

VI. CONCLUSION
Various factors attribute to the defect in
power system. The proper research involves the
study of various cause and obstacles for the
reliable and continuous power supply. The
preventive methods improve the performance of
Distribution and Transmission Systems, CIRED,
Vienna 21-24 May 2007, Mark Megranaghan,
Electric Power Research Institute.
(7). Reliability of Electric Supply Structure-
Case Study-Hard book of power Quality Edited
by Angelo Baggini, John Willey & Sons Ltd.

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 International Journal of Engineering and Techniques - Volume 3 Issue 2, Mar – Apr 2017

(8). Switchgear Protection and Power Systems

by Sunil.S.Rao. Khanna Publishers, Delhi -
110006 Eleventh Edition.
(9). Electrical Power by Dr. S.L.Uppal,
Khanna Publishers, Delhi – 110006 Thirteen
Edition.
(10). Electric Power Distribution by A.S.
Pabla, Tata McGram Hill Publishing Company
Limited, New Delhi, Fourth Edition.

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